Automatic coupling



w. w. PHILLIPS. AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

v APPLICATION FILED MAR- 3,1921. 1,401,489.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I W 2 lllllll Patented Dec. 27, 1921,

W. W. PHILLIPS.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED MAR-3,1921.

mm x lag m D M m a x in 1 W v N 0N LM MPR uun eu STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.wILLIAin w. PHILLIPS, or RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

AUTOMATIC COUPLING.

Application filed March 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. PHILLIPS, a citizen of the United States residing at Richmond, in the county of llenrico and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Couplings, of which the following is a specification. I r

This invention relates to automatic car couplers, and more particularly to a coupier which will assume locked position when brought into engagement with a second'coupling member, and will automatically open when the second coupling member is unlocked, and removed therefrom.

In the present invention, I provide an automatic coupler having a pivoted knuckle adapted to engage a similar knuckle carri'ed by an engaging coupling member. A spring pressed actuating member is provided which is adapted to normally main tain the knuckle injopen' position. A gravity actuated lock is arranged within the draw bar in which the knuckle is mounted and when the knuckle is in locked position, the locking member engages the side of an eittehsion carried thereby. When a second knuckle is in engagement or coupled therewith, the en agement of the locking memher maintains the coupling in closed posibut when the second member is released, the sprin pressed actuating member turns the kniickFe on its pivot and lifts the lacking unlocked position.

The invention fnrther comprises a pivoted latjch adapted to maintain the locking member in unlocked position, when desired. The lockinvmen ber is provided with an operatlng rod extendin' toone side and when this rod is turned, t e locking member is li fted and maintained in raised or inoperaave pantie-n by the nah. n

i invention further comprises a bracket arranged on the head of the draw bar beheath thejcoupling jaw adapted to engage the knuckle of the engaging coupler if the draw barshould become broken and the coufall. In this way, the coupling and draw bar are prevented from falling be the car and causing derailment or serioustrouble. i y the accompanying drawings, I have Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 27, 1921. 1921. Serial No. 449,408. 1

view on line 5-5of Fig. 1,

, Fig; 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 1, n

Fig. 8 is adetail perspective View of the locking member and latch therefor, and

Fig. 9 is a similar view of the knuckle and actuating member.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates the draw bar which is provided with a slot 2 to permit it to be secured to a car. The draw bar is provided with an enlarged head 2, one side of which is provided with an extension 3, which forms a guide for the engaging coupling member when two cars are being coupled. The draw bar is provided with a longitudinal bore 4; extending through the head, the bore being enlarged in the head at each side to form recesses 5 and 6. A knuckle 7 is pivoted to the head of the coupler, as at 8, and is adapted to be received in the recess 5 when in closed position. As shown, the knuckle is provided with an engaging jaw 9, and a rear extension 10. The rear extension of the coupler is provided with a projecting rib .11 on its upper face, providing a recess or depression 12. between the rib and the body portion 7. The upper wall of the head is providedwith a rib 13 (see Fig. 7 which is adapted to be received in the recess 12 to form a guide for the coupling member.

A spring 1A is arranged in the bore 4, and this spring is adapted to engage the inner face of an actuating member 15. As shown in Fig. ear the drawings, the body portion of the actuating member is adapted to parent that movement of the actuating member will cause a knuckle to swing on its pivot, due to the engagement of the projection 18 inthe opening 17. At the front of the plate 17, a vertically arranged plate 19 is provided, forming anengaging face for the knuckle of the second coupling.

In order to produce an operative structure, it is necessary to provide some means for maintaining the coupling members in locked position. The construction as heretofore described provides a coupling member which is normally maintained in unlocked position by the force of spring 14, exerted on the actuating member 15. Arranged transversely of the coupling head is a rod or shaft 20, which extends through one of the side walls of the head and is provided with an operating handle 21. A gravity operated locking member 22 is arranged on this red. As shown, the rod is squared, as at 23, whereby the locking member may be raised by turning the rod. When the knuckle of the coupling member is in closed position, the locking member 22 engages the side of the extension at 24,:0 prevent the coupling from turning on itspivot. The locking member is provided with an off-set portion 25, arranged on one/side which forms a guide for a latch 26 arranged adjacent the locking member and pivoted by pin 27, arranged in a pair of ears 28 formed in the head of the coupling. As shown, the latch is provided with an extension 29 forming an operating handle. The lower end of the latch is enlarged, as at 30,'providing a lip or shoulder 31; The normalposition of the latch is shown in Fig. 6 Ofthe drawings, with the enlarged end 30 in enga ement with the face 32 of the extension. s shown, this face is rounded to permit the lower end of the latch to ride over it when the lock is raised, and thus maintain the latch in position adjacent the locking member at all times. .As shown, the body portion 26 of the latch is slightly curved, whereby the enlarged lower end is arranged in a vertical plane offset from the plane of the pivot, and when the locking member is raised, to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the latch moves by gravity to bring the enlarged end 30 into vertical alinementwith the pivot, causing shoulder 31 to engage the end face of the locking member and retain it in raised position. An angular bracket 33 is Secured on the under side of the coupling head, the bracket being secured thereto by means of a pin 34, passing through openings in a pair of cars 35.

In operation, the spring 1% normally maintains the knuckle in open position as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When two coupling members are brought together, the knuckle of each coupling member engages the enlarged face 19 of the actuating member of the corresponding coupling member and forces the actuating member 15 into the bore 4, compressing spring 14 as shown in Fig. 5. The rearward movement of the actuating member causes the coupling to turn on its pivot due to the arrangement of the projection 18 in the opening 17, the face of the opening being rounded, as shown, to permit the projection 18 to ride freely in the opening and thus turn the knuckle on its pivot.

When in closed position, the knuckles of the coupling members engage each other, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and the locking member assumes a position in engagement with the side face 24; of the extension 10 retaining the coupling in locked position. The interengagement of the various parts of the two coupling members prevents the actuating members from moving forward and the locking member prevents the knuckle from swinging on itspivot. When the locking member is raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the spring 14; moves the actuating member forward and swings the knuckle 7 011 its pivot. The other coupling member is also opened as the removal of the knuckle 7 permits the actuating member of the engaging coupling to move forwardly, and the engagement of the actuating member lifts the locking member to permit the knuckle to assume an open position. Thus, when the two coupling members are in engagement with each other, the limiting of the movement of the actuating member of each coupling by the knuckle of the corresponding coupling permits the locking member to function and maintain the coupling in closed position, but one coupling member cannot be maintained in locked position alone, and as soon as the rod 20 is turned to release one of the conpling members, the engaging coupling member is capable of assuming an open position, and moves to an open position as soon as the knuckle of the first coupling is removed therefrom.

When the locking member is raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, it is momentarily engaged by the latching member until the actuating member starts to move forward. When the actuating member moves forwardly, it moves the latching member to one side to permit the locking member to assume an operative, position when the coupling members are agaln brought together. When the coupling member is in open position, illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, with the forward end of the body portion 15 of the actuating member extending beyond the rear end of recess 6, it is impossible for the latching member to assume an operative position and the locking member is, therefore, always in proper position to en age the face 24 of the extension and lock the coupling if two coupling members are brought together. a

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. A coupling member comprising a draw bar having a head formed thereon, said draw bar and said head being provided with a longitudinalbore, said head being provided with recesses arranged on each side of said bore, a knuckle pivotally mounted in one of said recesses, an actuating member comprising a body portion arranged insaid bore, a plate formed on the forward end of said ody portion, said knuckle being connected to said plate, a locking member mounted in said head and adapted to engage the side of said knuckle when in closed position, said locking member being normally actuated by gravity, an offset portion formed on one side of said locking member, and a gravity operated latch to maintain said locking member 2. A coupling member comprising a draw bar having a head formed thereon, said draw bar and said head being provided with a longitudinal bore, said head being provided withrecesses arranged on each side of said bore, a knuckle pivotally mounted in one of said recesses, an actuating member comprising a body portion arranged in said bore, a plate formed on the forward end of said body portion, said knuckle being connected to said plate, a locking member mounted in said head and adapted to engage the side of said knuckle when in closed position, said locking member being normally actuated by gravity, an offset portion formed on one side of said locking member, and a gravity operated latch to maintain said locking member in raised osition, said latch comprising a curved bo y portion, an enlargement formed on the end of said body portion, whereby a shoulder is formed at the junction of said enlargement and said body portion, the offset portion of said locking member serving as a guide for said latch to maintain it in position to permit the shoulder to engage the locking member when the locking member is raised.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

R. G. TAYLOR, R. H. DAVIS. 

